Lightning arrester



June 11, 1929. L. H. WHITNEY LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed June 9, 1927 Fig. 3.

Inventor Laurence H. Whitneg,

His Aotovvweg.

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Patented lune H, 192% srrss PA'FET LAURENCE H. WHITNEY, F PITTSFIELD,

MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR. TO GENERAL ELEGTRIC COMPANY, A CGH-POR-A'IION O31" NEW YQRK.

Lionrnmo Annnsrnn.

Application filed June 9,

My invention relates to an electrolytic cell. More particularly it relates to a cell of the type which is especially adapted for use as a lightning arrester, a rectifier or the like.

The cells of the foregoing type have been quite delicate in construction so that they have not been readily adaptable for use in. rough service inasmuch as the elements are readily distorted either in service or due to the process of assembling, packing or shipment, 7

lhe object of my invention is the provision of a cell of rigid and dependable construction so that its use need not be confined to power stations and the like, but may be extended to include vehicular service such as electric railways and the like. The inven tion will be more readily understood by rot erence to the accompanying" drawing, in which 1 shows the elements of the cell assembled and in perspective; Fig, Q shows the elements or the cell of Fig; l separated and in perspective; Fig 3 indicates how the cells are connected up in an electric railway car for example; Fig. 4i shows a modified form of the central element in the cell;

Referring more in detail to the drawing, it will be seen that the outer element 2 is prefer ably formed from a single piece of corrugated metal such as aluminum, preferably folded transverse its longitudinal axis, as indicated in Figs, 1 and 2, lt will be seen that the inner element 3 is also formed from a single piece of metal such as aluminum, which element is corrugated as indicated, the corrugations extending parallel to the longitudinal of the element. The outer element 2 is folded transverse its longitudinal axis to form la ll-shaped electrode and is provided with terminal strips iand 5-, the upper sections of which strips are folded to form lugs 6 and 7 which look with. each other, thereby forming a bridge upon which the binding post 8 is secured lit will he seen that the element F; is provided with longitudinal corrugations or rihsh and ill which extend all the way from one end of the plate to the other. The corrugation 10 as shown extends along the strips i and 5 and overlaps the brid where the strips re pressed to gether by the binding post lt will he seen that the corrugations extend also across the hottorn hridge portion. ll of the element With construction such as indicated, oh= rain an outer element for an electrolytic cell 1927. Serial Ito, 197,565.

inner electrode is formed from metal strips 12 and 12 which extend beyond the active surface oi the electrode and are brought together to form an arch with the terminals of the strips bound together byathe binding post 13" The elements may be made preferably from aluminum plate, the thickness of the outer plate being preferably greater than the thickness of the inner plate. The thickness of the material inay he of the order of .040 to .060. In the type of cell shown in Fig. l, the elements 2 and 3 are clamped to a porcelain plate 13 which serves also as the cap for the jar which contains the elements :2 and 3 and the usual electrolyte. lit will be oh served that the porcelain element 13 is provided with channels it and 15 for receiving the terminal extensions lln these channels, openings are provided through which the posts 8 and 13 extend forming the terminals of the cell, The porcelain plate 13 is also provided with a groove for receiving the corrugation 10. In Fig. li-,1 have shown a inedilied form of the inner electrode. In this form, the terminal strip elements 16 and 1'? are folded over for the purpose of strength of construction, I

With the fragile type of construction heretofore used in connection with devices of the foregoing character, it has hecn a common source of trouble that the elect "odes would he come easily hent so that there would result uneven. distribution of current which would shorten the life of the cell, With the type of construction of my invention, this source of tronhle is practically eliminated While l have shown my invention in con nection with a specific form of construction, I do not wish to be limited to such construe tion inasmuch as in view ct discloses variations of the invention may he readily made without departing from the spirit there oi or from the scope of the claims contained herein,

What'l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is 2- L An electrode for an electrolytic cell in form of a single piece cl metal plate with lllll a reinforcing rib, and with a pair of terminal lugs one at each opposite end of the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought together and bound to form a terminal and reinfore ing arch for the electrode, said rib extending along said arch.

2. An electrode for an electrolytic cell in the form of a single piece of metal plate with a reinforcing rib, and with a pair of terminal lugs one at each opposite end of the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought t0- gether and bound to form a terminal and reinforcing arch for the electrode, said rib extending along said arch, the ends of said rib meeting in said arch. i I

3. An electrode for an electrolytic cell in the term of a single piece of metal plate with a reinforcing rib, and with a pair of terminal lugs one at each opposite end of the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought together and bound to form a terminal and reinforcing arch for the electrode, said rib extending along said arch, and a second rib on said plate for further strengthening the plate, said latter rib being confined to the plate region and excluding the lugs.

4. An electrode for an electrolytic cell in the form of a single piece of metal plate folded into a series of parallel corrugations with a pair of terminal lugs one constituting an extension along one margin of the plate and the other constituting an extension along the opposite margin-0f the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought together to form a reinforcing and terminal arch.

5. An electrolytic cell including an electrode in the form 01 a single piece of metal plate with a reinforcing rib, and with a pair of terminal lugs one at each opposite end of the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought together and bound to form a tern1inal and reinforcing arch for the electrode, said rib extending along said arch, said cell including also an electrode in the form of a single piece of metal plate folded into a series of parallel corrugations with a pair of terminal lugs one constituting an extension along one margin of the plate and the other constituting an extension along the opposite margin of the plate, the free ends of said lugs being brought together to form a reinforcing and terminal arch, the latter electrode being located within the U region of the first electrode.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of June, 1927.

LAURENCE H. WlllT lllll. 

